Which of the following lists correctly identifies the four main principles of natural selection as described by Charles Darwin?

• A. Competition, cooperation, mimicry, camouflage
• B. Mutation, migration, genetic drift, adaptation
• C. Speciation, extinction, hybridization, gene flow
• D. Variation, inheritance, high rate of population growth, differential survival and reproduction

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the concept of natural selection as described by Charles Darwin. Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
2. Step 2: Recognize that the four main principles of natural selection are essential for explaining how traits become more or less common in a population over time.
3. Step 3: Analyze each option provided in the problem. For example, 'Competition, cooperation, mimicry, camouflage' are ecological interactions or survival strategies, not principles of natural selection.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the correct answer: 'Variation, inheritance, high rate of population growth, differential survival and reproduction.' These principles explain how genetic differences (variation) are passed down (inheritance), how populations grow, and how certain traits lead to better survival and reproduction.
5. Step 5: Conclude that understanding these principles helps explain the mechanism of evolution and why certain traits become prevalent in a population over generations.